Abstract
Sweet corn ( Zea mays convar. Saccharata var. rugosa ) is a key crop in Georgia with high mineral nutrient demands that make soil fertility management essential for sustained productivity. This study evaluated the effects of locally sourced biochar at different application rates (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 tons/acre) combined with inorganic (granular) or organic (poultry litter) fertilizer on nitrogen uptake, plant growth, yield, and ear quality of sweet corn. Field trials were conducted on sandy loam soil using a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed that higher biochar rates (15–20 tons/acre) increased nitrogen uptake by 9.5% to 13% when compared with the control, with the greatest uptake observed in 2023 under favorable rainfall conditions. Organic fertilizer improved the total soluble solids (TSS), a key indicator of ear quality, but neither biochar nor fertilizer type significantly affected plant growth, biomass, or yield. Environmental conditions, particularly early-season rainfall, strongly influenced outcomes, with heavy rainfall in 2024 reducing nitrogen uptake and ear quality compared with those in 2023. These findings suggest that biochar can enhance nitrogen retention in coastal plain soils, whereas organic fertilizers may improve ear quality. However, the limited duration of the study highlights the need for long-term research to fully assess the cumulative effects of biochar on soil health and yield stability. Moreover, the findings emphasize that rainfall plays a critical role in influencing the performance of soil amendments, thus underscoring the importance of considering environmental variability in nutrient management strategies. This study provides valuable insights into the use of soil amendments for optimizing sustainable sweet corn production in southern Georgia.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Higher biochar rates increased sweet corn nitrogen uptake by 9.5% to 13% versus control.
Verbatim
e0“higher biochar rates (15–20 tons/acre) increased nitrogen uptake by 9.5% to 13% when compared with the control”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen uptake was greatest in 2023 under favorable rainfall.
Verbatim
e0“the greatest uptake observed in 2023 under favorable rainfall conditions”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Organic fertilizer improved sweet corn total soluble solids.
- Taxon
- Sweet Cornt0
- Treatment
- Organic fertilizere0
- Outcome
- total soluble solids (TSS)e0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Organic fertilizer improved the total soluble solids (TSS), a key indicator of ear quality”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Neither biochar nor fertilizer type significantly affected plant growth or biomass.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“neither biochar nor fertilizer type significantly affected plant growth, biomass, or yield”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Neither biochar nor fertilizer type significantly affected sweet corn yield.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“neither biochar nor fertilizer type significantly affected plant growth, biomass, or yield”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Heavy rainfall in 2024 reduced nitrogen uptake relative to 2023.
Verbatim
e0“heavy rainfall in 2024 reducing nitrogen uptake and ear quality compared with those in 2023”
t0“Sweet Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Heavy rainfall in 2024 reduced ear quality relative to 2023.
Verbatim
e0“heavy rainfall in 2024 reducing nitrogen uptake and ear quality compared with those in 2023”
t0“Sweet Corn”
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